“My brother doesn’t discuss his finances with me,” Riley said. “But even if he was destitute, that wouldn’t change things. Billy’s partner, Scott, is a very successful restaurant designer. They have money. And, as I told you before, neither of them had a reason to kill my husband.”
“That you know about,” the sheriff said. “Where is your brother today, Mrs. Griggs?”
“It’s Ms. Nolan. I believe he’s working out of state this week. Billy is a jazz musician.”
“And his partner, Scott Moriatakis? He’s what you people call a weekender? Comes and goes but works someplace else?”
“Yes. His full-time residence is in New York, but he travels constantly for work. Didn’t he tell you this already when you questioned him?”
The sheriff ignored her question. “And your husband owed him money too, because he’d also invested money in the hotel project that fell through?”
This was the first Riley had heard about Scott investing in the Pirate’s Point hotel project. “Where did you hear that?”
Riley felt Parrish kick her under the table.
“Scott doesn’t discuss his finances with me either,” she said quickly.
“Is he on the island now?” the sheriff asked.
“No. As you said, Scott’s mostly a weekender. You have his contact number, correct?”
“Yes,” the sheriff said. “There’s one more thing. The Baldwin County Coroner’s office is ready to release your husband’s remains. Call Cleo Carter at this number. They’ll need to know what mortuary you’re using.”
He stood up abruptly, ripped a page out of his notepad, and handed it to Riley. “Mrs. Griggs, Mrs. Godchaux, that’s all we have now. But we’ll be back in touch.”
* * *
Riley and Parrish stood on the porch at Shutters, watching the police cruiser roll slowly down the driveway toward the main road.
“Good thing I saw that cruiser leaving the county garage in the village,” Parrish said.
“So that’s how you knew to come without my calling you,” Riley said.
Parrish smiled blandly. “It’s my own secret bat signal.” Her expression turned serious. “Did you know Wendell owed money to Scott?”
“No!” Riley said. “Billy never said anything about it to me. I wonder if he knows Scott loaned Wendell money? And I really wonder how the sheriff knows.”
“It sounds like they really do suspect either Billy or Scott,” Parrish said.
“Which shows you what an idiot that sheriff is,” Riley said. “You’ve known both of them for years. Does either one of them strike you as a killer?”
“Of course not. Nobody we know strikes me as a killer,” Parrish said. “Except maybe Evelyn. That didn’t come out right,” Parrish said hastily. “What I meant was, your mother is a force of nature. And when people don’t bend to a force of nature, well, sometimes they get mowed down. I totally don’t think Evelyn bashed in Wendell’s head and killed him. If she wanted him dead, she would have poisoned him.”
“She’d like to kill me right now,” Riley said. “And so would Maggy.”
She quickly brought Parrish up to date on her confrontation with her mother and daughter over her relationship with Nate Milas.
“You were right to stand up to both of them,” Parrish said. “Good for you for finally growing a set.”
“Nate and I have been talking almost every night while he’s been gone,” Riley said. “But I don’t know how we can keep up a relationship once Maggy and I go back to Raleigh. Especially since I’m starting my new job as soon as I get back.”
“You got a job!” Parrish squealed. “I knew you could do it. That’s fabulous.”
“We’ll see. The money sucks, and it’s some new start-up women’s interest magazine format, sort of like my last job at WRAL. And I’m a little nervous that they were willing to hire me without an interview. I mean, who does that? But I don’t have any choice. And my agent promised that if the ratings are okay we’ll go back and renegotiate.”
“So you’ll be amazing, and you’ll get offers for something better,” Parrish said.
Riley sighed and looked at the scribbled note in her hand. “I guess it’s time to throw a funeral, huh? God, how I dread it.”
Parrish put her arm around her friend. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you through it.”
55
Riley was almost dressed for the funeral. Thank God she’d thrown a simple navy-blue linen sheath into her suitcase when she was packing for the summer. As she was pawing through her jewelry case looking for something to dress it up a little, she picked up a strand of huge freshwater pearls.
They’d been a gift from Wendell’s mother, Beatrice, and although she’d been touched by the sentiment, Riley had secretly found them a bit gaudy. Today though, it seemed appropriate to wear them for the last time. And then she’d pack them up, along with her engagement and wedding rings, and save them for Maggy, who loved bling.
As she searched the case for her pearl earrings, Riley spotted the amber-colored pill bottle Parrish had pressed into her hand the night before. “Here. I think you’re gonna need this.”
“You know I don’t like drugs,” Riley said hastily, trying to give the bottle back.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Who doesn’t like drugs? Anyway, it’s not like it’s quaaludes or meth, honey,” Parrish said. “It’s just a little something to take the raw edge off your nerves tomorrow.”
“Isn’t that why God invented wine?”
“Wine is for after the service,” Parrish said. “And I promise, I’ll have plenty for you back at my house afterward. But you need to dose yourself with these an hour beforehand if you want to survive this ordeal with your wits intact.”
Riley was fastening the pearl necklace when Maggy burst into the room. Her daughter was wrapped in a towel, and her hair was dripping wet.
“What’s this supposed to be?” Maggy brandished a pale purple frock.
“A dress?”
“I get that it’s a dress, Mom, okay? When I got out of the shower just now I found it laid out on my bed.”
Riley took the dress and frowned. It was a girlish lavender floral print, with a deep ruffle at the hem and a high neckline. She held it up to her daughter. The hem hit Maggy two inches below the knees. It reminded Riley of something from Little House on the Prairie. All it needed was a matching sunbonnet.
“I think I know what this is about,” Riley said. She walked out into the hallway and hollered, “Mama!”
Evelyn popped her head out of her bedroom door. “I’m right here, Riley. You don’t have to shout.”
Riley held out the dress. “Do you know anything about this?”
Evelyn’s face softened. “Isn’t it darling? I knew Maggy didn’t have anything suitable to wear to her daddy’s service, and there wasn’t time to take her shopping in Wilmington. Frieda Heard orders all her grandchildren’s clothes from this online store. I had to guess at Maggy’s size and pay extra for overnight shipping, but I think it’s perfect, don’t you?”